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2011 BMW 528I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most 528I years

Owner complaints for the 2011 BMW 528I are substantially higher than the model-year median of 46.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all 528I years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

68 reports with mileage · 49 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

10 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2024
EngineUnknown Or Other

Again I write about 2011 bmw 528i, the vanos bolts were recalled and when bmw was fixing them they showed a video , there was belt and metal pieces in the engine oil. Whoever had this car before me did fix the belt and other issues but they said they didn't take off the bottom of the engine pan for the oil to get out .. the va…

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Again I write about 2011 bmw 528i, the vanos bolts were recalled and when bmw was fixing them they showed a video , there was belt and metal pieces in the engine oil. Whoever had this car before me did fix the belt and other issues but they said they didn't take off the bottom of the engine pan for the oil to get out .. the vanos bolt recall when I looked it up was June 1st . I had bmw fix the missing bolts 🔩 June 7th it had to be towed there and back to my house. They said they made a decision that it did not happen because of the recall . Which it stated in the recall paperwork that it can affect the engine and to not drive it ! So as of today I have a bmw that was recalled and I do believe other recalls on this car as well had everything to do with me not having a car now because the engine misfiring and stalls and brake light and sensors are all no good. Does not add up . They refused to give a new engine because the car is worth way less than a new engine.

NHTSA ODI #11601328

Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2024
Unknown Or Other

My car started to make a loud clicky sound from under the hood then the car completely stalled and died in the middle of the road and would not restart and had a lot of difficulty moving the car due to not being able to put it in neutral. I have now been without a car since November and BMW has taken way too long to fix this iss…

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My car started to make a loud clicky sound from under the hood then the car completely stalled and died in the middle of the road and would not restart and had a lot of difficulty moving the car due to not being able to put it in neutral. I have now been without a car since November and BMW has taken way too long to fix this issue.

NHTSA ODI #11573163

94,000 miles · Feb 13, 2021
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other

WAS AT MY FIANC GRANDADS FUNERAL SATURDAY 02/06/2021 AND THE CAR STARTED ACTING STRANGE IMMEDIATELY I HEARD STRANGE NOICE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE GOT A DIAGNOSIS AND MECHANIC TOLD ME VVT ISSUES GOT IF FIXED AT A CERTIFIED BMW TECH AND ON HIS BULLETIN I SEEN THE RECALL AND HE TOLD ME ABOUT THIS RECALL AND THAT HE GETS…

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WAS AT MY FIANC GRANDADS FUNERAL SATURDAY 02/06/2021 AND THE CAR STARTED ACTING STRANGE IMMEDIATELY I HEARD STRANGE NOICE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE GOT A DIAGNOSIS AND MECHANIC TOLD ME VVT ISSUES GOT IF FIXED AT A CERTIFIED BMW TECH AND ON HIS BULLETIN I SEEN THE RECALL AND HE TOLD ME ABOUT THIS RECALL AND THAT HE GETS MANY CARS EVERY WEEK FOR THIS JOB HE TOLD ME I WOULD BE REIMBURSED FROM BMW OF NORTH AMERICA I HAVE ALL THE RECITES FOR THE LABOR AND PARTS AND I REALLY NEED YOUR HELP IN GETTING THIS RESOLVED

NHTSA ODI #11396026

80,000 miles · Nov 20, 2020
Unknown Or Other

MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS BMW TRANSMISSION. THEY ARE VERY NOT RELIABLE, MY CAR WON'T GO REVERSE OR PARK. INVESTIGATING THIS WILL MAKE BMW LEARN FROM HOW TO MAKE RELIABLE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11375484

Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2019
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

THERE ARE A FEW RECALLS FOR MY CAR BUT WEN I PUT IN MY VIN TO SEARCH ,IT SAYS 0 RECALLS BUT I SEEN ONLINE THAT THERE ARE MANY RECALLS

NHTSA ODI #11267213

45,000 miles · Sep 3, 2016
Unknown Or Other

AS OF SEPT 2016 ALL BMW CONNECT DRIVE FEATURES HAVE BEEN DISABLED BY BMW OF N AMERICA. THIS MEANS IF YOU HIT YOUR SOS BUTTON IT MAY CALL A LOCAL 911 LINE ??? THERE IS NO WAY TO SEND INFORMATION TO CAR YOU CANNOT LOCATE YOUR CAR REMOTELY DRIVER IS UNABLE TO SEND LOCATION OF CAR TO ANYONE AND BMW HAS NO UPGRADE FOR A 2011 BMW 528I

NHTSA ODI #10903425

100,000 miles · Jul 15, 2016
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AT 40 MPH I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION TYPE SOUND. I PULLED OVER AFTER MAKING SURE IT WAS SAFE AND NOTICED MY SUNROOF GLASS HAD SHATTERED INTO A MILLION PIECES. IT LOOKED AS IF IT HAD EXPLODED FROM WITHIN THE CAR OUTWARDS. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND BMW OF AMERICA AND BOTH SAID THAT IT WAS NOT RECALLED …

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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AT 40 MPH I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION TYPE SOUND. I PULLED OVER AFTER MAKING SURE IT WAS SAFE AND NOTICED MY SUNROOF GLASS HAD SHATTERED INTO A MILLION PIECES. IT LOOKED AS IF IT HAD EXPLODED FROM WITHIN THE CAR OUTWARDS. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND BMW OF AMERICA AND BOTH SAID THAT IT WAS NOT RECALLED AND THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF ANY INCIDENTS SUCH AS THAT. BMW OF AMERICA SUGGESTED I TAKE MY CAR INTO THE DEALER AND HAVE THEM EXAMINE IT AT MY EXPENSE.

NHTSA ODI #10885137

Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 2016
SteeringUnknown Or OtherInjury

WE BOUGHT A 2011 BMW 528I WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. WE STARTED TO HAVE ISSUES RIGHT AFTER THAT. PULLING RIGHT, ELECTRONICS FREEZING, CAN NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS WITH KEY FOB, CAN NOT GET OUT FROM CAR BECAUSE DOOR HANDLES DO NOT WORK TIME TO TIME AND OUR 2 YEAR OLD SON GOT LOCKED INSIDE(CAR LOCKED BY IT SELF) AND WE HAD TO BREAK …

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WE BOUGHT A 2011 BMW 528I WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. WE STARTED TO HAVE ISSUES RIGHT AFTER THAT. PULLING RIGHT, ELECTRONICS FREEZING, CAN NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS WITH KEY FOB, CAN NOT GET OUT FROM CAR BECAUSE DOOR HANDLES DO NOT WORK TIME TO TIME AND OUR 2 YEAR OLD SON GOT LOCKED INSIDE(CAR LOCKED BY IT SELF) AND WE HAD TO BREAK THE WINDOW WHICH TOOK ALMOST 30 MINUTES. BMW SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM AND WENT EVEN FURTHER SOME OF THE ISSUES ARE FEATURES OF THE CAR. OUR KIDS GETTING LOCKED IN THE CAR IS A SERIOUS ISSUE, CAN NOT GETTING FROM THE CAR IS ANOTHER SERIOUS ISSUE. WHAT IF CAR CATCHES A FIRE IN AN ACCIDENT AND WE GET STUCK IN THE CAR. PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT IT. I DO HAVE VIDEO RECORDINGS IN MULTIPLIABLE OCCASIONS. EVEN BMW SERVICE TOOK THE CAR FOR THE SAME ISSUES AND CONFIRM IT WAS AN ISSUE. BUT COULD NOT PROVIDE ANY SOLUTION. IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO SOMEONE BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES, IT WILL BE ON YOU GUYS IF YOU DO NOT TAKE ACTION IN THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10872459

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2016
Unknown Or Other

ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING FROM UPLAND CA IN ROUTE TO LAS VEGAS NV USING HIGHWAY I15 FRWY. TIME WAS AROUND 700 AM THE TEMP OUTSIDE WAS APPRX 12 DEGREES.

NHTSA ODI #10822651

Mileage unknown · May 21, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineUnknown Or OtherInjury

PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 528I BMW AND WITHIN MONTHS I HAD A COOLANT SIGNAL INDICATING LOW COOLANT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE COOLANT SIGNAL CAME ON EVERY SIX WEEKS, DESPITE HAVING IT TOPPED OFF AT DEALERSHIP. CAR HAD INADEQUATE POWER AND FELT LIKE IT DRAGGED. BMW SERVICE CENTER REPEATEDLY FAILED TO IDENTIFY A PROBLEM. EVENTUALLY, THE S…

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PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 528I BMW AND WITHIN MONTHS I HAD A COOLANT SIGNAL INDICATING LOW COOLANT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE COOLANT SIGNAL CAME ON EVERY SIX WEEKS, DESPITE HAVING IT TOPPED OFF AT DEALERSHIP. CAR HAD INADEQUATE POWER AND FELT LIKE IT DRAGGED. BMW SERVICE CENTER REPEATEDLY FAILED TO IDENTIFY A PROBLEM. EVENTUALLY, THE SIGNAL CAME ON AND AN INTOLERABLE FUEL ODOR EMERGED UPON TURNING ON THE CAR. FUEL AND CHEMICAL ODORS REMAIN. I HAVE READ OF OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND BELIEVE THERE IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT MAKES THE CAR UNSAFE. THE EXPOSURE TO CARCINOGENIC COOLANT FUMES AND THE GAS FUMES ARE DANGEROUS. COOLANT MAY BE LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. OTHER MECHANICAL ISSUES MAY BE CAUSING THE DRAG AND CONTINUED LOSS OF POWER. IN ONE INSTANCE I LEFT THE VEHICLE AT THE BMW SERVICE CENTER WITH A FULL TANK AND WHEN IT WAS RETURNED TO ME, THE FUEL LEVEL HAD DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY DESPITE HAVING BEEN DRIVEN A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF MILES BY THE SERVICE PEOPLE. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THESE PROBLEMS POSE A SAFETY HAZARD TO NOT ONLY MYSELF, BUT THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND OTHER BMW OWNERS WHO MAY BE UNAWARE OF THESE ISSUES. I FEEL THE CAR IS COMPROMISED BY THE MANUFACTURING DEFECTS AND THAT EFFORTS TO REPAIR THE PROBLEMS CONTINUE TO EXIST. I FEEL THE CAR IS UNSAFE AND POSES A SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARD AND THAT BMW IS UNWILLING TO INVESTIGATE HOW PERVASIVE THE PROBLEM MAY BE. I WANT AN INVESTIGATION AND FEEL THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS IS NOT "THE ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE." PLEASE INVESTIGATE THESE PROBLEMS AND HELP PREVENT OTHERS FROM BEING UNNECESSARILY SUBJECTED TO TOXIC FUMES AND CHEMICALS WHICH MAY COMPROMISE THE PUBLIC'S HEALTH AND THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI #10594058

Official recalls

4

17V683000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:crankcase (pcv)

Oct 30, 2017

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

16V832000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Nov 17, 2016

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2011 BMW 528i, 528xi, 535i, 535xi, 550i and 550xi vehicles manufactured March 1, 2010, through August 31, 2011. The affected vehicles may have received a replacement Sensor Cluster Unit (SCU) during a service visit. These SCUs have an acceleration sensor that may have been incorrectly programmed and, as a result, the SCU may not accurately determine if activation and deployment of the air bags, safety belt pre-tensioners and head restraints is necessary in the event of a crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Depending on the severity of the crash, inadequate activation of the driver and/or passenger air bags, safety belt pre-tensioners and active head restraints may increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the SCU, free of charge. The recall began on December 16, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

16V746000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Oct 17, 2016

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 BMW X5 3.0si, X5 4.8i, X5 M, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i and X5 xDrive50i, 2008-2011 X6 x Drive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 535i xDrive Gran Turismo, 535i Gran Turismo, 550i xDrive Gran Turismo and 550i Gran Turismo, 2011-2012 528i, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i and 550i xDrive and 2012 535i ActiveHybrid, 640i Convertible, 650i Convertible, 650i xDrive Convertible, 650i Coupe and 650i Coupe xDrive vehicles. The affected vehicles have in-tank fuel pumps that may have insufficiently crimped wire contacts.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The loose wires may cause the connector to melt, resulting in a fuel leak. Additionally, the fuel pump may stop working, possibly causing an engine stall and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

14V176000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Apr 10, 2014

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 128i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 328i Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 328i Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Sports Wagon and Z4 sDrive 30i, 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 135i Convertible, 335i Sedan, X5 xDrive 35i, and X6 xDrive 35i, 2011 335i xDrive Sedan, 335i Coupe, 335i Convertible, 528i Sedan, 535i Sedan, 535i xDrive Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, and X3 xDrive 35i, 2010 X3 xDrive 30i, and X5 xDrive 30i, 2012 640i Coupe, and 640i Convertible and 2010-2012 535i Gran Turismo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and may possibly break.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the bolts loosen or break the engine may have reduced power or stall. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four VANOS housing bolts for both VANOS units (intake and exhaust), free of charge. In addition, owners of approximately 170,172 model year 2010-2012 BMW vehicles equipped with inline 6 cylinder engines not covered by this recall, will receive an extended warranty to address this condition. The recall began on September 24, 2014. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.